Following the messenger, Miketsu boarded an ox-cart and headed straight for the Fujiwara residence in the Upper Capital District. Along the way, she asked the messenger what had happened, but he didn't give a direct answer, only saying that a detailed explanation would follow.
As Miketsu neared the Fujiwara estate, she began to notice that something was very wrong.
First, samurai had set up roadblocks on the streets from a great distance away, blocking pedestrians and driving off bystanders. Miketsu had felt the gaze of spiritual vision scans from a while back, and it never ceased for a moment. The closer she got to the Fujiwara residence, the tighter the security became, confirming her suspicion that the Fujiwara family's current predicament was no ordinary matter.
As the ox-cart continued forward, Miketsu sensed more and more unusual phenomena. She realized that the very air was thick with demonic energy... and the further they went, the stronger it became. Unlike the demonic power she usually encountered, this energy was saturated with intense malice and hatred. This was the first time Miketsu had ever encountered power laced with such raw, powerful emotion... making her even more curious about what kind of trouble the Fujiwara had brought upon themselves.
Regardless of what the trouble was, it was clear that the Fujiwara residence was the epicenter. She would know everything once she arrived.
The ox-cart came to a slow halt before the main gates of the Fujiwara estate. Stepping out, Miketsu saw a heavily guarded entrance. Samurai wielding spirit blades brimming with spiritual power stood alongside onmyoji holding hand seals, both groups vigilant against an unknown enemy. Countless charms were pasted onto the gates and walls of the residence, stretching all the way to the unseen ends of the perimeter. The onmyoji had released their shikigami, which patrolled the edges of the estate without pause.
The sky above the Fujiwara residence was currently dark and oppressive. From that gloom, thick, malicious demonic energy seeped downward, filling the entire estate. Dark purple energy, almost visible to the naked eye, was continuously sinking into the ground.
Just what kind of spirit had the Fujiwara provoked?
Looking at the exaggeratedly malicious demonic energy before her, Miketsu was filled with doubt. She realized she couldn't find the source of the energy; it appeared constantly, yet its origin was nowhere to be found. Moreover, it bore deep traces of spellwork that were absent in normal demonic energy.
With these doubts in mind, Miketsu followed the messenger into the residence. She found that the interior was completely deserted. Charms were pasted everywhere, and various ritual tools lay abandoned. Many of the charms were torn or scorched, and the scattered ritual tools were heavily damaged. It was clear these had been part of various magical arrays that had been destroyed while contending with some other force.
It seemed the Fujiwara and this demonic energy had engaged in a fierce struggle within the house, but in the end, the Fujiwara had lost, leaving behind only charms, ritual tools, and an empty mansion.
The messenger led Miketsu through the vast house, navigating many turns before reaching a wide meeting hall. On the floor of the hall, a secret passage had been opened, with broad, level steps leading underground.
"The lords of the Fujiwara, including Master Saneyori, have all moved to the underground treasury for refuge. Please follow closely, Master Hao; I will lead you down now." The messenger turned and respectfully cautioned Miketsu. After Miketsu nodded in response, he led the way down the stairs, and she followed.
The secret passage leading underground was quite wide, with burning torches inserted into the walls at intervals to light the dark environment.
As they descended deeper, charms began to appear on the walls of the passage once more, growing denser the further they went. Unlike those in the house above, these charms were currently in an active state, radiating spiritual power. This meant that from here on, they were at the new front line of the Fujiwara's defense against the unknown evil force.
At the end of the passage, Miketsu entered a massive underground space. The floor was level, and the area was filled with high-rising, tiered cabinets. These cabinets consisted of frames and a vast number of square drawers. These beautifully decorated large cabinets were arranged in neat rows. Miketsu guessed that since this was the Fujiwara's treasury, those drawers likely contained their vast collection of treasures.
The messenger continued to lead Miketsu forward. The charms pasted on the cabinets and pillars became more numerous, and complex, glowing magical arrays began to appear on the floor. Every few steps, there were onmyoji sitting on the ground with their eyes closed, chanting spells. The dense sound of their chanting echoed through the space, and there was even a faint trace of Buddhist hymns intermingled with it.
Sanskrit? Are there monks here as well?
Curious, Miketsu continued to follow the messenger until she finally reached their destination.
This was a wide, cleared-out space within the treasury, where the density of charms and complex arrays reached its peak.
Numerous people dressed in the lavish attire of nobles were gathered here. There were men and women, young and old, some sitting and others lying on the floor. All of them looked dazed and listless, their complexions pale and sickly. Each person was attended to by several servants, making the scene one of frantic activity. Miketsu could tell that these were likely the aristocrats of the Fujiwara clan.
At the outer edge of this space, the densest group of onmyoji gathered in arrays, chanting their spells. Several among them were also driving various spiritual treasures. A few of these artifacts were particularly eye-catching, such as a luminous pearl that floated automatically in the air, and a long scroll of sutras that drifted and flew around the area. The Buddhist hymns Miketsu had heard earlier were emanating from this scroll.
Driven by the numerous onmyoji, the various treasures, charms, and magical arrays combined to form an incredibly powerful restriction, protecting everyone within. From the ceiling of the underground space, dark purple demonic energy seeped down from above, spreading toward the onmyoji and nobles. Under the combined restriction of the chants, treasures, and charms, this demonic energy—heavy with malice and hatred—was being continuously dispersed and purified.
Yet, even such a powerful restriction could not completely neutralize this evil energy. A few strands of energy still managed to reach the people present, leaving them as weak as if they were suffering from a severe illness, with some having fallen unconscious entirely.
What powerful hatred... to be able to penetrate a restriction of this level.
Seeing this, Miketsu couldn't help but marvel internally. At that moment, she was brought to her destination: before Fujiwara no Saneyori at the center of the area.
"Heh... I've truly made a fool of myself. The first time you visit the Fujiwara home, you see us in such a pathetic and miserable state." Dressed in his kariginu, Fujiwara no Saneyori sat on the ground, his face deathly pale. He spoke to Miketsu with a wry smile, seemingly enduring some kind of pain.
"I don't think now is the time to discuss anything else. Can you tell me exactly what this thing is?" Facing Saneyori, Miketsu tilted her head back and looked up at the demonic energy continuously seeping from above.
She was very curious about what could have reduced the Fujiwara clan to such a state.
Upon hearing Miketsu's question, Fujiwara no Saneyori let out a long sigh before answering.
"It is a curse. It comes from a vengeful spirit... a curse targeting the entire Fujiwara clan."
"A vengeful spirit's curse? What kind of spirit could be powerful enough to reach this level?"
Fujiwara no Saneyori looked up at the hatred seeping from the ceiling. His eyes were dim, and his voice was dry as he spoke.
"This is... a sin committed by my Fujiwara ancestors two hundred years ago. This is... the vengeful spirit of Prince Nagaya, who died along with his entire family because of the Fujiwara! Two days ago, someone broke his seal and took him from the shrine. After gaining great power from somewhere, he has returned for revenge!"
...
In a dark forest far outside Heian-kyo, a group of humans dressed in black stood gathered. They formed a circle, their hands formed into seals as they chanted spells, creating a magical array between them. At their head was none other than Minamoto no Yorimasa.
In the center of the array was a massive, fiercely burning orb of ghostly green soul fire. Amidst its violent burning, the fire vaguely took the shape of an abstract flaming skull, letting out constant, crazed roars.
"Fujiwara... Damn the... Fujiwara..."
"All the Fujiwara must die... I will devour their... souls!"
"I want... revenge..."
On the ground directly beneath the skull of soul fire, the demonic blade was plunged into the earth. Purple-red sinister power surged out from it, coiling around the vengeful spirit above and being continuously absorbed by it.
A divine messenger clad in armor stood a short distance away, silently watching the scene. He murmured softly,
"Just like that... absorb the power bestowed by the Great God, transform it all into your resentment, and then release it to your heart's content. Prince Nagaya... my descendant..."
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